Chapter 1
Angel of Music
The four of them were stretching getting ready for rehearsal of the opera "Hannibal". As Isabella looked up she saw that Carlotta's maids were covering their ears. She pointed them out to Elizabeth, Meg, and Christine. They all burst into laughter as they watched waiting for Carlotta to show herself. For when she did they all had to cover their ears. But before she could start the new managers walked in. As they walked in they looked on in interest, a young man with light brown hair and dark brown eyes followed behind. He looked around the stage with the same interest as the managers but then he saw four young women dressed as mystical gypsies. There was one in particular that caught his eye. It just happened to be Isabella. Her hair was the color of mahogany. His chocolate brown eyes captured her forest green ones just for a moment. He looked at the other three and immediately recognized the one that was standing to Isabella's left. Christine. He thought and smiled as he walked towards the quartet remembering the summer he spent with her when he was a young lad. Christine saw him and ran to him throwing her arms around him.
"Raoul it has been so long since I saw you. It was that summer that my father died."
"Yes I am very sorry for that I wish that I could have been there for you." He looked over her shoulder at the woman that caught his eye before. "Aren't you going to introduce me Lottie?"
"Oh yes I am sorry Raoul. These are my dear friends Meg," she nodded to the short blue eyed blonde haired girl. "Elizabeth," she nodded to the one with chocolate brown hair and the bright blue eyes. "And last but not least Isabella. They have all been here as long as me. Elizabeth and Meg are both the daughters of Madame Giry." Raoul nodded at each one as they gave him a slight curtsy. "Girls this is Raoul Vicomte De Chagny. I grew up with him he was friends with my father." All of a sudden they heard a scream.
"It is the phantom" a girl called out. Carlotta started to freak out and decided that she would not perform the opera that they were in the moment practicing for. The new managers were now becoming worried about this nights coming performance.
"What are we going to do if our star isn't performing?" André said to Firmin.
"Why won't the understudy perform?" Said Firmin.
"Understudy? There is no understudy for the great Carlotta." Says Madame Giry.
"I know the perfect person to sing the solo Monsieur's. Why not Christine? She has a wonderful voice. Madame Giry has told me she has been practicing with some genius. Just listen to her." Said Maestro Isabella's father.
"No I think that maybe there will be a way for us to convince Carlotta." André said to Firmin.
"Let's just listen to her André. There shouldn't be any problem if she can't sing then she doesn't take the lead."
"I guess but we don't have very much time. Discount De Chagny I think that you should leave and go to my office so that we can discuss the plans of the security for this opera house." André said.
"Yes Monsieur." Raoul bowed to the ladies then grabbed Isabella's hand and placed a soft kiss upon it "I will see you all some other time then. Goodbye" he looked into her eyes making a silent promise just to her that he would return to her. "Good day ladies." He said to everyone then left to André's office. When Raoul was gone Firmin turned to Maestro and had him start at the beginning of the aria Christine made her way up to the front of the stage to sing the song "Think of Me" all of the people on the stage became quiet. She had the most beautiful voice ever.
Think of me,
Think of me fondly,
When we said
Goodbye.
Remember me
Once in a while-
Please promise me
You'll try.
"She has a wonderful voice Firmin I believe she will do for the replacement of Carlotta" André said to him.
"Yes she will absolutely do."
Later that evening Christine stood on the stage in her magnificent wedding dress singing to the audience. No one noticed the Phantom in his booth looking down upon her with admiration in his dark eyes I am a very wonderful teacher he thought to himself.
Think of me,
Think of me fondly,
When we said
Goodbye.
Remember me
Once in a while-
Please promise me
You'll try.
When you find
That, once
Again, you long
To take your heart back
And be free-
If you
Ever find
A moment
Spare a thought
For me…
We never said
Our love
Was evergreen,
Or as unchanging
As a sea-
But if
You can still
Remember,
Stop and think
Of me…
Think of all the things
We've shared and seen-
Don't think about the things
Which might have been…
Think of me,
Think of me walking,
Silent and resigned.
Imagine me
Trying to hard
To put you
From my mind.
Recall those days,
Look back
On all of those times,
Think of the things
We'll never do-
There will
Never be
A day, when
I won't think
Of you…
We never said
Our love
Was evergreen,
Or as unchanging
As the sea-
But please
Promise me,
That sometimes,
You will think
Of me!
After she had finished everyone had stood up and clapped for her. She turned to her left where Isabella, Elizabeth, and Meg were standing and they all smiled at her. She smiled back. Then she curtsied for the audience low. Then she walked to them and they all hugged her. Then she walked away they all watched her leave with smiles upon their faces. They thought she was going to her dressing room, but in reality she was leaving to go pray to her father. Then Isabella turned toward the box where Raoul was seated and just stared up at him for a little while. Then Meg and Elizabeth pulled her away so they could go and enjoy some refreshments. She looked over her shoulder to stare at Raoul one last time. But then she turned back to her friends and they began to discuss how much better Christine was compared to the "great" Carlotta, laughing the whole way.
As Christine got done praying she heard her name being called. She looked over her shoulder, saw Meg and Elizabeth walking up the stairs towards her. She smiled at both of them.
"Where in the world have you been hiding" Elizabeth asked her.
"Really you were perfect" Meg said. She smiled at both of them again.
"I wish I knew your secret. Who is your great tutor?" Elizabeth asked. Christine looked at them and began to tell them about her father telling her that he would send her an angel of music. As they were walking back up to the main level.
"Christine you must have been dreaming stories like that do not come true" Meg said. Meg and Christine went to the left towards the dressing room. But Elizabeth stayed behind and hid because she felt someone watching over them. She saw a strange masked man jump down from the rafters and head in the same direction as Christine and Meg. She stood there a couple of minutes and then silently followed. When Elizabeth turned the corner on the way to the dressing room she lost the masked man. As Christine and Meg got closer to the dressing rooms they noticed a huge crowd. One of the people spotted Christine and called out after her she then turned around and ran to get away from the crowd.
As Christine was running through the wings of the opera house to escape the crowd she ran into someone and they both fell to the ground. The person stood up and went over to her, held out their hand and helped her up. She stood up and found that the person that helped her was a man with white blonde hair with sky blue eyes. He literally took her breath away. She smiled shyly and so did he. She gave him a small curtsey.
"My name is Christine Daae. What's yours?" He smiled at her.
"My name is Jacques Dubrinsky he bowed low to her. She smiled; he took her hand and kissed it.
"I am sorry monsieur Dubrinsky I would love to stay and talk I am really tired and I must go to my dressing room so I can get some sleep." He smiled, nodded, and let her go with another kiss on her hand.
Isabella was sitting in her dressing room that she shared with Elizabeth, who was at the moment not there. Isabella had no idea where she had gone. She was already in her day clothes getting ready to visit with her father Maestro. She was sitting down by the mirror getting all the makeup off and brushing her hair. When there was a knock on the door. She called out "Who's there?" A deep voice replied.
"It's Raoul Vicomte De Chagny." She instantly got chills up her spine as she heard his voice. She had to find her voice before she could reply.
"Come in." She said in a somewhat squeaky voice. As the door opened she turned around and saw that Raoul had a bouquet of Lilies. "What are you doing here Monsieur?"
"I had to see you again." She looked at him confused she thought that she heard him say what he did but she had a mental lapse.
"What?"
"I had to see you again."
"Why?"
"I can't get you out of my head. Ever since we met on the stage at your practice I knew that I had to see you again. When I saw you on the stage tonight I knew I had to talk to you. So here I am." He walked to her and gave her the lilies. She put her face into them and took a deep breath.
"Lilies how did you know that they are my favorite?" He blushed just a little.
"I asked Christine when I saw her just after the performance so I bought some here at the opera house."
"Thank you Monsieur…" He cut her off.
"Just call me Raoul."
"Raoul."
"Would you like to go and have dinner with me tonight?"
"That would be lovely Mon… Raoul but I have to find Christine, Elizabeth, and Meg we were all supposed to go out to eat tonight. Plus I have to meet with my father."
"Okay we could always go some other time." He looked so hurt.
"I suppose I could leave a note for them so they would not be worried. We can go to my father on our way out and let him know that I am going out tonight with you.
"Okay I'll wait for you outside your door." Raoul left and let Isabella finish cleaning up and getting ready for their dinner date. Isabella put the lilies in a vase and set them on her dresser. She found her over coat wrote a quick note and left.
